cats

Thank you to Netgalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Gemma Correll for providing an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After having so much fun with my copy of Doodled Dogs, I wanted to check out Doodled Cats as well. This book is worth purchasing just for Gemma Correll’s drawings which are so funny and display so much personality. With just a few strokes, Correll can make cats happy, sad, snarky, or content.

The format and structure of Doodled Cats and Doodled Dogs is similar. Doodled Cats has four parts–Part I: All About Cats (the cat-toid spread is very wry but I learned some new information about cats, too), Part II: Doodled Cats Step by Step, Part III: It’s a Cat’s World, and Part IV: Cat Doodle Templates. The Bonus Project describes how to make a doodled cat coffee mug and is the same bonus project in Doodled Dogs.

My favorite section presents the step-by-step drawings. Correll has written instructions paired with drawings, and in each drawing what you are supposed to do is in red and what was done in a previous stage is in black. The instructions are easy to follow and definitely fun. Even though I am an atrocious artist, my doodled cats have a cuteness about them. (But boy, the Sphynx was hard for me!)

Sample doodles show cats in hats, cats in clothing, anthropomorphic cats, cats doing activities, and, of course, cats in boxes! Several pages have “plain” cat doodles so that you can decorate them with the accessories or patterns you choose.

In pages that make me laugh out loud, Correll collects classic cat-dog illustrations paired with perfectly hilarious captions. Perhaps my favorite has one of Correll’s famous pugs saying to a cat in earmuffs, “Will you be my girlfriend?” “Can’t hear you,” replies the cat.

I have purchased several how-to art books, and Correll’s are the only ones I’ve read where I’ve had lots of fun with the text and activities. Doodled Cats is perfect for so many people: Gemma Correll fans, cat lovers, and people who enjoy doodling/zentangle books.

On April 15 (in the “Cat Shelter Needs Help” entry), I reported that Ollie’s Place, a shelter for cats in New York City, was in danger of shutting its doors due to funding issues. I just learned that enough donations were raised to quell the imminent threat of closure. Hooray!

Sloane came home from the animal hospital Saturday. George has set up a convalescence area in the back for her to recuperate. She seems to be doing better. She purrs like crazy when I go into the room, and George says she is eating. I’m very relieved, but will be happy when she is back to normal. She looks a little ragged. Her tummy is shaved from the ultrasound, and she still has a catheter in her leg in case George needs to give her fluids. He’s been a great caretaker for her.

Sloane is still at the animal hospital and not doing well. They’ve given her steroids, which has been shown in some studies to help jolt cats out of this behavior, but Sloane doesn’t seem to be interested in food. George and the doctors at the clinic are keeping a good eye on her, so we’re hopeful. It does seem to be that this illness was caused by the changes in our house–workers making noise, visitors, and moved furniture. It’s heart wrenching that we can’t do anything to help her.

UPDATE: Tonight George said that the doctors X-rayed Sloane’s head and that the likely culprit of her illness is a severe inner ear infection. She is still at the hospital receiving antibiotics and fluids.

Thanks to the doctors and staff at VetMed for taking such good care of her!

Ollie’s Place, a shelter for cats in New York City, had a major sponsor pull out recently. Due to my experience with Anthem Pets, I know how devestating this can be for a small non-profit group. More information about the situation is available on the Etsy for Animals blog or you can go directly to the Ollie’s Place website to make a donation.

Sloane is still very ill, and we are at a loss about her diagnosis. George has been force feeding her and giving her IV fluids, but she continues to hide under the bed or in the closet. Disturbingly, she has stopped using her litter box. George took her to work today. Maybe the doctors will be able to figure something out.

Sloane is still hiding in the corner of the guest room behind George’s bike and eating very little if at all. The blood work came back normal, so George sent a sample out for a valley fever test. The internal specialist at his work said the best guess is that stress is causing Sloane’s symptoms.